Do You Know What’s on Your Food?

Pesticides and fertilizers are of growing concern, and more and more people are aware of their potential dangers. But now there are ways of learning just exactly what’s in the produce you eat.

A new website and accompanying app (www.whatsonmyfood.org) will help consumers make informed choices by explaining just what and how many chemicals and pesticides your food contains. Now you can opt for pesticide-free products instead of a nonorganic alternative.

 Meanwhile the nonprofit organization Environmental Working Group, which specializes in research into toxic chemicals, has listed a “dirty dozen” of produce with the highest pesticide load. These include apples, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, sweet bell peppers, celery, potatoes and lettuce. Some, of course, may be peeled to dramatically reduce pesticide residue, but what do you do about others?

It’s worth considering. According to experts, even small doses of chemicals can lead to poor health, especially for the most vulnerable – the elderly and the young.

Buying Life Insurance? Ask These Six Questions

Are you considering a term life insurance policy? If so, it’s important you do your homework to ensure that you get the policy you need.

Here are six questions to ask before you sign on the dotted line.

What are your income needs?

It’s important to consider your family’s income needs over the course of your policy, including expenses such as mortgages, college tuition, medical bills and funeral costs.

What length of term do you want?

The length of your term will depend on your long-term income outlook. For example, if you’re working for 10 more years and then have retirement benefits and Social Security, a 10-year term may work for you.

Can you convert the policy?

If you outlive your term life insurance policy, you may want to convert it near the end of the term without needing another medical exam. Be sure to read the fine print on the conversion option, as there can be time limitations for conversion.

What other benefits do you want?

Riders – such as disability waivers that pay your premiums if you become disabled – are more common on whole life insurance policies than on term life insurance policies. But they are available, so look into them.

How applicable are advertised rates?

Even if you’re relatively healthy for your age, the rates promoted in online or newspaper ads may be based on an applicant with exceptional health. The price quoted may not be applicable to you.

Is the insurance company stable?

Life insurance companies are usually in excellent financial health, but you should still check out their rating. Agencies that rate life insurance companies include A.M. Best Company, Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

Party Stress-Free With Tips From the Experts

It’s one of life’s great ironies that planning a fun party can be stressful. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be.

Learn from the experts. Keep these party planners’ tips top of mind and you’ll have rave reviews from the partygoers while staying calm, cool and collected yourself.

One month to go

Choose a theme. A theme makes planning your party a little easier and a lot more fun.

Generate a budget. This will be your lifeline for the party. Remember, it’s not about how much you spend but what you do with your budget.

Pick your guests. Try not to invite people who hate each other; make sure it’s a fun mix.

Invite. Use whatever works for you:
e-vite, phone call or cute card.

One week to go

Plan your meal. Hopefully everyone will have RSVP’d by now.

Logistics. Decide on a seating plan. Know where the coats will go. Make sure you have enough glasses of all types.

Hours to go

Go Zen. Have everything ready well ahead so you can relax.

Laugh at your mistakes. Your guests are probably having too much fun to notice.

Have fun yourself. It’s the best part of throwing a party!

How Craftsmanship is Making a Comeback

The rise of careful craftsmanship is one of the more interesting trends that has gained traction over the last few years.

You can see it in the repurposing of vintage furniture and found objects, which become unique home décor objects in the hands of a skilled craftsman. You can see it in the 100-mile movement, with its emphasis on local, home-grown food and its extension into handmade crafts produced by local artisans. And you can see it in craft circles, artists’ collectives and local artisans’ markets, which are thriving across North America. Even interior designers are seeking out craftspeople for special projects, and the website www.custommade.com, which connects clients to craftspeople, boasts some 36,000 completed projects.

The trend does in fact reflect a desire for unique items, but another possible stimulus is the decline in the quality of today’s manufactured goods, which has sparked consumer interest in well-made and long-lasting products.

Today’s consumers want to know what they’re purchasing, where it came from and how it’s being made. “They demand to be informed of every step of the process, for it is the only way to be sure that you are purchasing a quality product,” comments CustomMade’s Heather Bailey on http://bostinno.com. Their products may have a modern twist, but today’s artisans channel their colleagues from the crafts movement of the early 20th century. While modern technology offers them easy access to information and networking, their passion for creating and pride of workmanship reflect the values of bygone days, with unique and amazing results.

Is It Time to Consider Inflation-Protected Annuities?

The guaranteed payments that annuities offer can help protect investors from troubled times, providing the value of the annuity isn’t being whittled away by inflation.

Many economists are worried about inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a widely used gauge of consumer spending, decreased 0.3% in May 2012, and core inflation (which eliminates volatile food and energy costs) rose 0.2%. For the one-year period ending May 31, 2012, the CPI rose 1.7% and core inflation rose 2.3%. That places core inflation above the U.S. Federal Reserve Board’s target of 2%.

Inflation can be problematic for annuity owners. That’s because the annuity payouts are dependent on interest rate levels at the time the money is invested.

One way to address this problem is to invest in an annuity that adjusts for inflation. Some annuities raise payments based on changes to the CPI; others raise payments by a fixed percentage per year; and still others increase payments only if interest rates rise by more than a certain percentage by a certain date.

While this may be appealing to many investors, there are downsides to inflation-protected annuities. First, inflation protection can add to the cost of the annuity. Second, inflation-protected annuities may offer lower initial payouts. Third, annuities that increase payments when inflation rises often also reduce payments when inflation declines.

Investors may therefore want to consider other ways to address this problem. One option: Consider investing in several immediate payment annuities at several points in time; this allows you to potentially capture different interest rates. Another option: Invest part of your assets in an annuity and part in stocks and bonds.

Of course, deciding which approach makes the most sense for you depends on your individual financial situation and tolerance for risk; we can help you make the choice that’s right for you.

Annuity guarantees rely on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer. The IRS may also impose a 10% penalty on withdrawals prior to age 59 ½, depending on the circumstances

Smarter Smart Phones Usher In Cashless Society

Sick of lugging around cash? Don’t worry. The cashless society is just around the corner.

Thanks to smart … and smarter … cell phones, the days of wallets, cash, even credit cards may soon be over. Already customers are flashing their phones to purchase lattes in some Starbucks locations or lumber at Home Depot.

A survey by Washington-based Pew Research Center asked 1,000 technologists and social scientists about the wallet’s fate in 2020. Two-thirds felt both cash and credit cards will have disappeared by then, to be replaced by smart devices. In fact, even now, smart phones hold all the information we need to transact business: payment methods and identification.

Naturally, companies are anxious to transition to the post-cash economy. Both Visa and MasterCard now offer wireless payment options, and the government of Canada is moving away from plastic, as it plans to stop issuing social insurance cards in March 2014.

Meanwhile, Square, Inc. (www.squareup.com) has found a way for small merchants, such as the local hot dog seller or a dog walker, to accept credit cards via a smart phone.

The downside, of course, is concern about privacy and security. The Pew survey found that one-third of respondents felt consumers would worry about the security of their transactions and the misuse of personal data, as advertisers will be able to fine-tune their pitches to customers already predisposed to buy. 

Fixed Annuities May Provide a Bigger Payout

With a fixed annuity, you make a payment to your insurance company and you then receive a “set” or “fixed” payout. While many investors like the idea of a guaranteed income stream, for others the “fixed” part seems just a little too rigid. But that’s not necessarily the case.

All annuities operate in essentially the same way: You sign a contract with an insurance company. You pay the insurance company, and the insurance company then makes payments to you at regular intervals either for a specified period of time or for your lifetime.

From there, annuities differ dramatically. Some annuities have variable payouts, meaning they’re dependent on the performance of a portfolio of assets. Some investors, particularly those nearing retirement and needing some stability, don’t like the sound of a variable payment. Instead they opt for a fixed annuity, which provides a set income.

A fixed annuity payout may seem meager when the stock market is rising and investors with variable annuities are receiving greater payouts. However, fixed annuities may not be as fixed as they sound. For example, some fixed annuities are now available with payments that rise to adjust for inflation. Other fixed annuities allow an investor’s heirs to continue to receive payments if the investor dies earlier than expected.

We can help you determine if a fixed annuity is right for you. If it is, we will also be able to advise you on the appropriate balance of income and flexibility for your financial circumstances.

Annuity guarantees rely on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer.  The IRS may also impose a 10% penalty on withdrawals prior to age 59 ½, depending on the circumstances.

Gas Prices Rising? Don't Worry - Start Biking!

If there was a simple way to be happier, more active and save money all at once, would you do it? These days you can’t surf your favorite news site without encountering a study showing that those who have chosen bikes over cars are happier and healthier.

The New Economics Foundation, a British-based think tank, has reported that “studies comparing the experiences of commuting by bicycle and car report that cyclists find their mode of transport at least as flexible and convenient as those who use cars, with lower stress and greater feelings of freedom, relaxation and excitement.”

A survey of Portland, Oregon, businesses found that bicycling is the fastest-growing mode of transport for downtown employees’ work commutes, and Canadian researchers found that 66% of people who commute by walking or biking are very happy with their commute, compared to 25% of transit users and 32% of drivers.

But the benefits don’t stop there. By biking to work, you avoid being stressed out by gas prices and, of course, you’re “doing the right thing” environmentally. If you think bike commuting is right up your lane, here are some tips to help you start:

· Ride a bike specially designed for commuting.

· If there aren’t designated bike lanes, stay to the right as much as possible.

· Take the flattest route. Plan it out at www.mapmyride.com.

Summertime…and Outdoor Living is Easy

Summer is back, so what are you waiting for?  Whether it’s the best foods to grill, the comfiest furniture to lounge on or the perfect backyard setup, here’s to getting the most from summer 2012.

The Barbecue

One of today’s hottest trends is stuffed burgers. Create your own by forming patties around fillings like cheese, bacon, even chutney.

Try this restaurant trick at home. Add mesquite or hickory wood

chips to charcoal to add a subtle smoky flavor to meat.

Grilled pizza can become your new go-to dinner. Make or buy your

dough, add your favorite toppings and throw it on the barbecue.

Outdoor Living

As long as local regulations permit it, add a fire pit to your outdoor living space. There’s nothing better than inviting a few friends over on a Sunday evening for a nice, relaxing evening by the fire.     

Outdoor pillows look great on your wicker furniture or patio set. Better yet, they make great floor cushions. You can get them in fun, bright colors and materials specially designed for the outdoors.

They don’t call it an outdoor living room for nothing. Jazz up your backyard space with fun accents. Raid your living room for decorative planters and mirrors. Don’t forget bright linens and unbreakable tableware and glasses for the outdoor dining room.

Fund Your Retirement Dreams Through Annuities

When it comes to funding your retirement dreams, it’s important to look at all available investment options and then structure a portfolio that provides regular income for as long as you’ll need it. Annuities could be a good option, but how do you know how much to allocate to annuities as compared with other investments?

As you know, creating a portfolio usually involves allocating assets to a mix of stocks (so your assets can keep pace with inflation) and bonds (so you’ll have a steady income stream). You’ll probably also want to have some cash on hand, and you may want to consider an investment in annuities.

To decide how much to allocate to an annuity, you could consider it a part of your bond allocation. That’s because allocating some of your nest egg to an immediate annuity creates a stream of income you can’t outlive, helping you overcome “longevity risk” – the risk that you’ll run out of money before you die.

Ask yourself what you think the stock market will do, and decide what your tolerance is for investment risk. Also consider whether you’re likely to burn through your assets earlier than you’d planned.

A significant allocation to an immediate annuity might be a good option under the following conditions:

·         When the stock market appears to be peaking or in the      

            early stages of a decline

·         When your tolerance for investment risk is low

·         When there’s a high probability you’ll exhaust your assets

           earlier than you wish.

Annuity guarantees rely on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer.  The IRS may also impose a 10% penalty on withdrawals prior to age 59 ½, depending on the circumstances.